UK Police Mistake Illegal Bitcoin Mining Operation for a Cannabis Farm... Bust Uncovered

[Image source=Reuters Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kwon Jae-hee] British police, who raided a facility believing it to be a cannabis cultivation farm, uncovered an illegal Bitcoin mining operation.

According to CNBC on the 30th of last month (local time), British police raided a facility in Sandwell, on the outskirts of Birmingham, on the 18th of last month following a tip-off about illegal cannabis cultivation.

Before the raid, police confirmed through inquiries that the facility had many ventilation ducts and deployed drones to detect heat generation, which strengthened their suspicion that it was a cannabis cultivation site.

However, during the search, no traces of cannabis cultivation were found, but approximately 100 computers were discovered.

The police stated that while Bitcoin mining itself is not illegal, this Bitcoin mining facility was stealing electricity from the local power grid.

Although no arrests were made during the raid, CNBC reported that all computer equipment was seized.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.